Nanakuli's Ambassador

You could think of Josiah “Uncle Black” Ho‘ohuli as an unofficial ambassador for his hometown of Nanakuli. He’ll gladly take the curious around to discover the histories and tales that seem to be hidden in plain sight. If anyone should know, it would be Ho‘ohuli, who’s a fixture at Nanakuli High School and loves everything about his West Side town. His father owned the bus line that took people between the Wai‘anae Coast at Kaka‘ako, and he says, “I pretty much know everyone here.” When asked about his youth, he chuckles about being “naughty” but adds that he joined the Marine Corps for a change of scenery.

Ho‘ohuli humbly adds that he likes to get involved in the community, pointing out that people recognize him and others as the elders in Nanakuli. “You have to pay attention to the kupuna,” he says. He credits his late wife, Leina, as the source of his humility. They were married for over 40 years and together they had three boys and three girls. Grandkids? “I don’t know, I can’t keep count—that’s the parent’s job,” he chuckles. Ever the gracious host, he enjoys sharing the beauty of Nanakuli with guests, even those from beyond Hawai‘i. A few years back, he took a spur-of-the-moment trip to New Zealand that proved to be life-changing. “I hooked up with some good people … I decided to do a cultural exchange,” he says. “It was completely different, and I really wanted to learn more.” Now, his Kiwi friends know that “Uncle Black” will always take care of them when they’re in town.

Our purpose is to honor those among us who teach
about our cultural and natural landscape: the ocean, land,
people and spirit that connect us all. The common thread
of the storytellers in these pages is the depth of wisdom
and the hope each possesses and has generously shared.

This collection of stories is guided by the beauty and
enduring power of nature, by history retold as future
knowledge not forgotten, and by the promise of
empowering Hawai‘i’s youth. Each of the contributors
share the belief of giving to community and taking
responsibility to lead sustainable lives of peaceful
relationships.

Through the Hawaiian tradition of storytelling, the
people’s connection to the ocean and land is preserved.
Our storytellers weave the rich history of Ko Olina, the
Wai‘anae Mountain Range coast and the ‘Ewa plains of
O‘ahu. The telling of stories continues the knowledge
of ocean and land. Without the storytellers, the essence
and soul of Hawai‘i would be lost forever.

We hope the photos within capture each person with
whom we had the pleasure to talk-story. We thank all
who participated in this labor of love and we are grateful
to be able to share just a few of the stories of this
remarkable place in Hawai‘i. - Mona Abadir